Winona Lake, Ind. - The Marian men's basketball team suffered their second defeat of the season on Wednesday night, losing 98-62 against No. 21 Grace College as they opened Crossroads League play on the road. Marian is 4-2 overall on the season after dropping their league opener.

Gavin Foe would score the first points of the game, but the Grace Lancers took control after the opening score, holding a lead for the final 37 minutes of the game after Brett Sickafoose dropped the home team's second score. Grace built their lead to six points through the first five minutes of the game, holding a 12-6 edge on the Knights. Josiah Gustin and Dylan Moles combined for five unanswered in the moments after the first media timeout, but a 9-0 run by the Lancers ended the Marian momentum.

Grace led 21-11 with 11:37 to play as Marian called timeout to break the run, and continued to push their lead over the Knights. Marian would stay within four scores over the next three minutes, but another 9-0 run by the home team saw the Knights' deficit grow to 16 points. Missed shots continued to plague Marian as the half wore on, as contested looks continued to fall out of the rim. The Lancers would go into halftime leading 45-26, as a pair of free throws from Elhadj Diallo with 1:15 to play in the half brought Marian back within 19 points.

The Knights traded scores early with Grace as the second half restarted, but the baskets from Luke Carroll and Aidan Franks were not enough to stall the red-hot Lancers. Grace pushed their lead over Marian to 30 points by the first media timeout of the second half, and would lead by as many as 39 points before the next media stoppage. Reis Butcher played extended minutes for the Knights in the second half and between the freshman and sophomore duo of Diallo and Dylan Moles, the top-three scorers in the half were unable to turn the tide. 

The Lancers would go on to lead by as many as 39 points in the second half, comfortably running away with the 98-62 victory. Marian's 62 points are the lowest team total of the young season, as they shot 36 percent from the floor while the hosts Grace shot 56 percent. Dylan Moles led the team in scoring with 15 points, while Diallo scored a bench-high 10 points. Noah Lovan scored nine points in the loss, while Butcher scored eight. Diallo and Gus Etchison each recorded a team-high five rebounds, and Aidan Franks had a pair of steals. 

Marian will look to rebound on Saturday, as they host (RV) Spring Arbor in the PE Center. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m.

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